Job losses over the past month now exceed 6,000, after news of the 200 posts cut by York Hospitals NHS Trust. Yesterday it emerged that health chiefs at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust had approved plans to cut 160 beds at five hospitals.

A quarter of the trusts thought to have serious financial problems have announced job cuts so far. The Liberal Democrats said last night that, on current trends, job losses could reach 24,000.

Steve Webb, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: “Every day brings further news of more job cuts which will undoubtedly affect frontline patient care. Staff morale and public confidence in the NHS will continue to crumble until ministers take action to reverse this trend.

“Money is being wasted on a costly and damaging permanent revolution in the health service. Taxpayers’ money is also being spent paying the private sector over the odds for treatments in order to hit waiting-list targets. Meanwhile, trusts are being forced to make short-term cuts to tackle problems that have built up over decades.

“What is needed is long-term planning in the NHS, not a series of short-term initiatives and sudden policy shifts.”

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